This vote is primarily due to voter rage directed at the actions of President Obama and Congress, only a delusional person would disagree. In Massachusetts no less. What a wake up call.

So I'm watching Scott Brown's acceptance speech, a guy I knew nothing about a month ago, and thinking- this guy could actually win the presidency.

"Whoa Tony, chill dude" you say? Sure, I admit I could be knee jerking a little on this reaction. I know very little about him, so he could turn out to have all sorts of garbage in his past that will torpedo him. I can only tell you I had a similar sense in 2004 when a certain up-and-coming Illinois state senator took the stage at the 2004 Democratic Convention (in Boston, MA, no less!) and took the party by storm with a speech that was better than the presidential nominee. Barack Obama was inaugurated as President less than 4 years after he gave that speech.

Scott Brown appears to have similar charisma and intelligence mixed with a certain regular guy "me and my truck" appeal few lawyers can muster. He was kind of awkward in his speech, but clearly has all the raw materials to be an Obama-like communicator. He'll have plenty of time to develop his political savvy-more time in the Senate than Obama-before the next election. To do what he did in Massachusetts...that's a serious achievement that could give him sway in some previously unwinnable states.

Palin isn't the right candidate for the GOP. Romney's shelf-life is about to expire. Huckabee's a talk show host. Pawlenty's name is too strange. Scott Brown might be it in 2012. Obama was a mistake- Jimmy Carter on steroids. He was a reaction to a poor Bush presidency and a mediocre, uninspiring GOP candidate. With a guy like Brown entering the picture, this could actually start to get interesting.

I'm not sure Teddy and Mary Jo are in the same place, I'm just say'n...

I honestly don't think Sarah Palin has huge ambitions other than helping where she can. I believe her on that one. She has a very happy and comfortable life in Alaska living off her book sales and speaking fees. They were living well before that.

Maybe Brown/Palin 0'10. She could be the Tea Party connection and he could be the Republican beltway connection

I am very glad Brown won and understand the enthusiasm about him running for POTUS, but I seriously hope the latter doesn't happen, or at least not in 2012. No executive experience and a short stint in the Senate isn't exactly a formula for success as President, as we have now learned. Plus we need to keep that Senate seat out of liberal hands for awhile. ;-)

Palin, Huckabee, Romney, Jindal, and Gingrich all have certain strengths, but I don't think any of them is the total package for President. IMO Tim Pawlenty is the most intriguing guy out there right now. Conservative, good resume, youthful, plus he's won two state-wide elections in a blue state (governor of MN in 2002 and 2006). He may not be perfect, but if he can sharpen his speechmaking skills, I could see him igniting the GOP in 2012.

You think that Pawlenty is too weird a name to become President? 3 words: Barack Hussein Obama. Not the average American name.

I think that Bobby Jindal could be a contender, if he feels that he has cleaned up corruption in LA enough to clean up some corruption in DC. I would love to be able to vote for the first female president, but I don't think Palin could win, and the only other female R I can think of would be Meg Whitman. Unfortunately, Senator Brownback just doesn't seem able to garner enough Republican support. I think that he is my favorite of all of the Republicans who have tossed their hats in the ring in the past. (Could just be because he is a Kansan.) ;)

Len, I don't leave Ron Paul out of the equation. He has the best economic philosophy out there. I think his foreign policy and defense policy is what causes him to be unable to crack the mainstream of voters.

I would LOVE a presidential candidate promise to make Paul their economic advisor and follow his directions if elected.

What a sweet victory! He was pretty sharp, this morning on the liberal “Today Show.” He didn’t talk down or go negative, he stayed positive and was very impressive. I remember when George W. came to Less’s Summit in the 2004 election and a group of us, including Brother Baker all went to see him. My dear friend Robert Kirkpatrick made the comment, “Watch this new guy Barak Obama! If he wins the senate seat in Illinois, he will be the Democrat nominee for president. He is sharp and very charasmatic and he could very well be elected.” I said, “How in the world is Barak Obama?”

Tony -- I had similar thoughts when hearing Brown's speech last night. Good analysis.

Christina -- I agree that having a president named Barack Hussein Obama has broken the glass ceiling of normal names. "Tim Pawlenty" and "Newt Gingrich" sound downright pedestrian next to that, eh? :)

I'm honestly not thrilled about any of the potential Republican nominees. I think Gingrich could wipe the floor with Obama in a debate (which would be fun to watch), but I'm afraid he has too much political and personal baggage to win, and his recent endorsement of Scozzafava alienated true-blue conservatives.

Remember who we nominated the last time a Democratic president was running for re-election (think pineapples). Let's hope we got all of the old fogey out of our system with McCain!

Don Vito Corleone

Lloyd and Harry

My favorite quote from Reepicheep

Taken from 'The Voyage of the Dawn Treader' concerning whether or not the ship should return home or press forward into the unknown -

"Aren't you going to say anything, Reep?" whispered Lucy.

"No. Why should your Majesty expect it?" answered Reepicheep in a voice that most people heard.

"My own plans are made. While I can, I sail east in the Dawn Treader. When she fails me, I paddle east in my coracle. When she sinks, I shall swim east with my four paws. And when I can swim no longer, if I have not reached Aslan's country, or shot over the edge of the world in some vast cataract, I shall sink with my nose to the sunrise and Peepiceek will be head of the talking mice in Narnia."

Why "Reepicheep"?

Reepicheep is descended from a group of mice who gnawed through the ropes that bound Aslan to the Stone Table after the White Witch had killed him; as a result of their service, they became talking mice. In Prince Caspian, Reepicheep is the leader of the twelve mice who help to fight against Caspian's Uncle Miraz in the Second Battle of Beruna at Aslan's How. He and his followers run through the battle and plunge their rapiers into an unsuspecting enemy's foot, causing him to fall, after which he is quickly dispatched. Reepicheep did not view his life as his own. He was fiercely loyal to Caspian, but ultimately to Aslan, the King of Kings. This attitude of loyalty must be my attitude toward the Church, and ultimately, the King and Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. Reepicheep is one of my favorite characters in all of literature because of his loyalty to the King. Despite his lack of size, ability, and power, he zealously guards the honor of the King. He sees his honor as being united to the King. He sees his life only in relationship to the King. Reepicheep was dead to himself and alive to the King and service to him.
I want to serve King Jesus with the loyalty of Reepicheep.